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Returning to an exercise routine after an illness or surgery means figuring out how much activity could threaten recovery, says Dr. Damond Blueitt, a sports-medicine physician at Texas Health Fort Worth. On the other hand, Blueitt says too much bed rest can cause people to lose muscle and strength. Fitness trainers say they want clients to OK exercise with their physicians and will modify workouts during recovery.

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Physicians are writing prescriptions for exercise, counseling patients on how much physical activity is needed and sometimes making referrals to a fitness trainer. The Exercise is Medicine program through the American College of Sports Medicine trains physicians to counsel patients, and the college also issues certifications for qualified trainers.

Students at Everglades High School in Miramar, Fla., will have the opportunity to learn about firefighting or sports-medicine training beginning this fall. The three-year firefighting program will train teenagers in fire science and safety techniques to earn Firefighter I and First Responder certifications. The school also received a $12,000 grant to start a four-year sports-medicine program that will be taught by the school's athletic trainer.

Creating an exercise space at home and keeping a fitness journal are among the steps that can make 2012 a healthier year, personal trainer Krista Mayo says. Mayo also cites diet, sleep and controlling stress as key focuses, along with stretching to reduce tension and build muscle strength.

The Hula-Hoop once again is a hit, not just for children but as an exercise and weight-loss tool, according to researchers at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. They told a sports-medicine conference that using a Hula-Hoop expends the same amount of energy as walking about 4 mph, raises the heart rate and burns off about 210 calories in 30 minutes.

Leslie McGraw, a family nurse practitioner at the South Lyon Medical Center Physician's Clinic in Nevada, strives to keep her community healthy by helping patients prevent illness. She says patients can do so much simply by exercising regularly and maintaining a healthy diet.